35+ TTC 1st Graduates!!! Come on Over!

[pablo797]

Morning girls,

Well yesterday might have been the worst day of my life. Finally got a text from DH, he was calling a realtor that afternoon. WTF??!! Drama queen much?? Anyway, all attempts to try and contact him to talk failed. So this morning he left me a not so kind message, along the lines and I'm quoting here ," where the f&#k are you? Where's the dog . . . ". . I left a very calm message that we'd be home tonight and I wanted to sit down and talk like adults and figure out what was going on. At the very least we need to figure out how to get along for Josephine's sake. HA, to answer your question I was in counseling before and wasn't too thrilled with her at the end, but I think I'd like for us to go to counseling regardless of if we stay together or not I think it would help with Jo. Now that's assuming he'll go. In the past he wouldn't. But this time it will be one of my "conditions" for lack of a better word. We need help, on so many levels. So tonight will tell. What I don't want to happen is what our normal pattern is, he gets nasty in a mood, and I just wait it out, and nothing ever gets discussed or worked out. However, he still has no concept of him being in the wrong, so I'm not too hopeful, but fingers crossed all can be worked out.

Ok enough sad and negative. Thanks HA for the ear advice. She does seem better although really clingy but that may very well have to do with what's happening at home.

Hope everyone is having a good day! Steph, how are you feeling these days? Angela, what's up with the boys? Vivienne, how is little Callum, that dare devil? Chris, are you using OPKs?

Xo anna

 

[MissMuffet08]

Hi Ladies,

Sorry I have been MIA lately.

Anna – Glad to hear that Jo is mending well after the surgery and that it went well! I am sorry to hear about you and your husband fighting. They do say that the first 5 years of marriage are the hardest and put a baby into the mix adds to it. I am hopeful that the two of you will work things out for not only Jo’s sake but for your sakes as well. Please don’t not talk about it because you think you are being sad and negative. If you need to talk, we are here!

Chris – How is Soph doing? No fun when the little ones are sick. Is she still in a crib or have you converted it to a toddler bed?

Beth – Where you been sweetie? How are you?

Happy Auntie – It is always great to hear from you! Please keep the posts coming!

Angela – how are the boys? I have several questions for you regarding car seats, food, bath time, bedtime, etc with two.

AFM this past weekend Katelyn had a birthday party at a Gymboree type place. Well she started crying soon as we entered the parking structure. And continued to cry for the about 10 minutes. Afterwards she had a GREAT time playing. I had to literally drag her out of there when the party was over! Later that day, my sister in law and her family came over to go swimming. Now, I know that it has been in the 90’s and what not here, however, our pool was cold. They were crazy. Needless to say, we (Katelyn, me, my husband) did NOT get in the pool, but watched as my niece and nephew and my SIL boyfriend swam and were cold LOL.

I had a DR appointment today with my perinatologist. Everything is looking good! I am at the halfway point . The Dr gave us a cool 3D (maybe it was 4D – I really am not sure of the difference) photo of baby girl. If I remember I will post it here for you all to see. I started calling the baby Sugar Plum and Katelyn now refers to her as Sugar Plum as well. I will ask her where is your sister and she will say “Sugar Plum is in mommy’s belly” She will give her kisses good night. Adorable. I hope it stays that way when she actually is here on the other side of the belly!

We have been going back and forth on baby furniture. We really like this one crib, however were thinking that now that we have converted Katelyn’s crib, we may just buy her a toddler bed and set her crib back up for the new baby. But I am not sure. I do know that my child needs a new mattress. No wonder she doesn’t want to stay in her bed at night. That thing is AWFUL! Oh and I do need to get her a guard rail as well, the poor thing fell out of her bed last night. I still use the monitor, and heard her crying, but didn’t see her in her bed. I decided to go in there just in case one of the dogs was laying around in the hallway, I didn’t want her to trip. When I get to her room she is laying on the floor still in her blanket (with Mickey Mouse) crying. I think she was still somewhat asleep. I picked her up and put her into our bed and she went right back to sleep.

On another note, I am trying to plan my 40th birthday party. I had originally wanted to go to Disneyland, but my husband has said no to Disney until after the baby is born. The last time we went to Disney when I was pregnant, I ended up having Katelyn a week later. So he is being very cautious and not wanting me to swell up and be on bedrest. So I think we are going to have a party at our house. I think I am going to go with a Hawaiian theme and get some tiki torches and some of those floating lights for the pool. One of Steve’s cousins is a DJ so we may have him DJ the party, but not sure if we want to have that loud of music. So the other option is making a play list on my iPod and using our speaker. The cool thing is that my Dad is coming to town for my bday so I am excited about that. Now, I just need to find a Hawaiian MuuMuu to wear to my party LOL!

Ok, now that I have written a novel about me I am going to get back to work! Hope everyone is having a good day!

Hugs,
Steph

 

[rottpaw]

Anna honey I'm so sorry and will be praying for you!

Steph fire away with any questions and I will be happy to answer!

Hugs girls and promise a better response from me soon!

 

[rottpaw]

Hey ladies!

I'm so sorry to be so scarce around here lately. As always, lots going on with two 2 and under in the house!

Firstly, Anna, I'm so glad to see you back here, but so sorry about your DH. I hope you guys can get things resolved, and I will be praying for you! Did you get a chance to contact your counselor?

Steph, how are you feeling? I can see where your hubby is coming from about walking a lot thru Disney. But the party will be fun WHEREVER you have it - so much to celebrate! I am so sorry Katie fell out of her bed! I have not yet been brave enough to convert Ethan's. Hubby keeps mentioning it and I keep trying to explain that, in this situation, confined toddler=safer toddler (though he climbs stairs and ladders fine, Ethan is not really a climber, at least not as far as crib). So we will probably wait as long as possible because we have two flights of stairs right outside his door, and will have to figure out a safe confinement system once he is in a toddler bed. Hubby has been resistant to the idea of gates at the top of both flights of stairs, but I will continue to push for one we can at least close nightly. (one set, the more dangerous at 18 straight steps down, is permanently gated off till both kids are proficient on stairs).

Chris, as others have said, try not to become too discouraged too quickly. Someone else mentioned this I think, but are you using OPK's? Those were critical for us. I got the clearblue digis and also found using them twice a day, not just once as it says on the box, was necessary or I could actually miss my surge (which seemed to show more clearly in late afternoon, vs. FMU). But I do know the pain of wanting that BFP and feeling like it will never happen. I pray it happens soon for you!

Viv how is Callum? I love all the sweet photos of him you post on FB! He is getting so grown up looking! It is amazing when they start to turn that corner into "little boy" instead of "baby boy." Ethan has really done that the last few months and wow, what a difference!

Hope everyone else is well - Beth, how are things?

AFM, we are well here, just crazy busy. People often ask me how it is going with two, and my honest answer would have to be "as well as could be expected, though it's definitely the hardest job I've ever had." I ADORE my kids, AND would not trade this job for the world, AND they are definitely the hardest bosses I've ever worked for LOL. I saw an article (and reposted it on FB) written by a father who said, "let me say a few things out loud, that we are all thinking" - and it was HILARIOUS. a HUGE relief to know I'm not the only one who feels overwhelmed about 99.6% of the time!

The boys are doing great, with the exception of Ethan's continued speech delay (slowly improving) and Reece's gas issues that now have him sleeping only in fits and spurts during day AND night. Poor hubby is having to take all the nights, because he says (and I freely admit he is correct) - "You'd never be able to deal with it." It is SO bad, and he is SO fussy all night (and now, lately, during the day too!) that hubby has to put him in our bed and (and I quote) "flip him like a pancake" all night. He has to fall back to sleep on his tummy, so hubby has to stay awake and wait for that then roll him back onto his back.... and this goes on all night long. We've tried Mylicon, we've tried extra burping and tummy time, we've tried every combination of breastmilk and different formulas we can think of.. Praying he gets back to a better routine soon. We are completely unsure what is causing it - we had just introduced solids, so obviously thought that was it, but three days now of no solids has produced little change... I dunno. Sometimes they just go through weird phases in development, and this just may be his. But my poor husband is being a saint to do that all night. I'd have to call a night nurse for SURE.

Otherwise, we are well! With everything that has happened lately with EThan, we made the decision to put him into a good preschool program next fall, 2 or 3 mornings a week. Of course, finding a "good preschool program" nearby with openings this late in the enrollment season is proving tricky. Yeesh! I'll be looking more into that as soon as I sign off here.

Meanwhile, I saw the photos from my high school reunion posted on FB, and about DIED. Not exactly the "slimming" effect I'd hoped for from the dress I chose!! Yipes! So I am officially back to jogging, and have begun walking once or twice a week (with strollers and kids) with another mom friend. I'm ready to get healthy and fit again! It is exhausting to try to get in that much exercise while still bfing and just trying to get back to a regular sleep groove, but I began having some worsening issues with my back and neck and am afraid I'd better get the extra pounds off quickly. I just pray I can get fit enough to keep that situiation from worsening.

Anyway, that is about all the news from here. We had a lovely week at the beach a couple weeks ago, and I'll try to add a few pics before I go.

Hope everyone is well! Steph, send me any questions you have and I'll try to respond promptly.

Love and hugs girls!

 

[rottpaw]

Here are a few recent pics. Please excuse cropping (my husband refuses to let me post pics of him online) and poor exposure (camera operator error!)

 

[MissMuffet08]

Angela - Ethan and Reece have almost the exact same smile! LOVE the photos! Will send you questions soon. Still at work!

Anna - how are you?

 

[rottpaw]

Thanks so much steph!!

Happy mothers day, ladies!

 

[newmarriedgal]

Happy Mother's Day to all the wonderful mothers on this thread.

Sorry I've been MIA - been trying to figure things out personally but I'm OK and hoping to get back on when I have a few mins.....Charlie is bathing baby right now, so taking a minute.

love to you all

 

[MissMuffet08]

Morning/Afternoon ladies! Happy Belated Mother's Day!!!!!!

It has been a weird week! Hand Foot and Mouth Disease is going around at my daughters day care. On Friday evening, my SIL came over with her family to go swimming. Katelyn and I only put our feet in (the water was cold!). That evening I gave my niece and daughter a bath together and noticed that my niece had horrible red pimple like bumps all over her diaper area. When I took katelyn out of the tub SHE had the same horrible bumps. My SIL said that it was a diaper rash and I was like, she didn't have it this morning.

Then I thought that it was the HFMD that was going around at school. I took to the DR on Monday and he said that he wasn't sure since she didn't have the traditional symptoms. He did say that it was NOT a diaper rash and that diaper rashes did NOT look like that (blistery looking red bumps). It was some sort of virus. So now, me and hubby think that it may have come from my niece after all.

Saturday, we went into the pool and since I dont have a maternity bathing suit I had on shorts with a tankini top. Well stupid me left my phone in my pocket - phone is dead. Good news is that a new one is coming today! Bad news all the little movies I had taken of katelyn the past month are gone because I hadn't backed them up on iTunes. that makes me sad. Because i had some really cute movies.

Baby is moving a lot in my belly, however anytime hubby goes to feel she stops LOL.

I hope everyone is doing well. It has been quiet on here lately.

Off to take care of katelyn since she cant go back to daycare until she is no longer contagious so a few more days.

HUGS,
Steph

 

[pablo797]

Hi all!!

First HAPPY MOTHER's day!!! Although belated I was thinking of y'all all weekend.

Steph, I agree Disney is maybe a good idea down the road. Best to be safe than sorry. The Hawaiian theme sounds so great!! So much fun! Glad Katelyn had a good time at the party, but sorry she was such a fuss going in. And I LOVE sugar plum!!! So cute!! Also love that Katelyn calls her sugar plum. Sooooo cute!!!

How is work going? I can't believe you're half way. How time flies but glad the appointment at the perinatologist went so well. How's the BP?

Angela, LOVE the pictures of the boys!! They have got to be two of the cutest little things ever!! Those dimples are to die for!

I am sure the weight thing is so hard for you. Not that I know what you look like, but a) give yourself a break, it takes time, and B) I'm sure you're not as heavy as you think you are. But sounds like you have a step in the right direction. And what about BFing? I just assumed because I was BFing the pounds would just melt away, but I didn't feel like it made much of a difference. I will say the final thing that worked for me was the calorie thing. I was just too busy with work and baby/toddler to exercise like I wanted to. So I ended up committing to a Smartones (weight watcher's version of a lean cuisine ) for lunch, yourgert and fruit for breakfast, then sensible dinner. I could snack all I wanted as long as it was raw fruit or veggies. It's what worked for me. I'm not a huge proponent of frozen meals due to all the sodium and the processing, but at the end of the day I needed calorie and portion control and I was terrible at it on my own.

How is Ethan coming along? Jo is getting a little better but still struggling so I'm going to have her tested. How is the search for pre-school? It is so hard to find a balance between quality, availability and cost. Best of luck to you!!

Beth, good to see you, hope all is good! Thinking of you.

Chris, how are things?

Vivienne, what's up in your neck of the woods??

AFM, well sorry to keep everyone e in the dark, all is better. We still haven't talked about what really happened, so hard to rock the boat when everything seems to go back to normal, but it's like ignoring a sleeping giant, eventually it will wake up and well be in the same boat again. So that's where that is and for now it's ok, not great, but better.

Had an ok Mother's Day, just spent the weekend farting around the house doing house projects. It's FINALLY getting nice outside so we can now work in the yard. I'm planting a garden for the first time and very excited!! Although the task is somewhat daunting at almost 9,000ft. But we have a really sunny lot so fingers crossed something will grow, I'm planting lettuce, broccoli, spinach, kale, special high altitude tomatoes, garlic, chives, potatoes, and carrots. All are pretty hardy cold weather crops so I hope they will do well.

Jo's ears seem to be doing better, though not the day/night difference some people say they experience. I think she may be teething again, two year molars starting early. She's also started biting. Ugh!! My worse nightmare!! She started before all the drama with DH, so I don't think it's a result of that, more frustration. Up until yesterday it was just with DH and I, but yesterday someone took a toy and she was mad and bit a classmate. Not badly, thank goodness!!!., but still I'm a little stressed over it. Woke up at 4:30 this morning and couldn't go back to sleep. There's a lot of information out there about it, so we're doing all we can to combat it, but you hate to have "that kid". Silver lining . . . Since I was up early, when Jo woke up at 6, I bundled us up and put her in the back pack and took us for a hike with the dog early. Good to get some exercise early in the morning, and it always helps clear my head. Gives some perspective.

Ok sorry for the novel. Hope everyone had a great Mother's Day!!!

Hugs,
Ann

 

[Purpleplum]

Hi everyone - I believe a post from me is well overdue since I've been lurking on this forum for quite some time (thank you Rottpaw for encouraging me to post)! I've never been one to post/blog, but you all seem so kind, welcoming, and I feel we have quite a bit in common.

So here is my background: I'm 42, have been with my partner for 8 years or so (not married) and we have a 21-month old daughter named Violet as well a son named Cole who is now almost three months (can't quite believe it)! We live in a small town about an hour outside of Portland, Oregon.

All I can say is having two under two is pretty crazy. Rottpaw - I don't know how you do it!

I plan to post more - just need to head home from work right now. I'm really looking forward to chatting with you all!

Jamie

 

[svetayasofiya]

Jamie! Welcome!! I have been MIA since last summer and only recently started posting again. Nice to see a new member. Two under two! WOW. You go girl!

 

[MissMuffet08]

Hi Jamie,

It is great to have you! I'm expecting number two in Sept and will be looking to you and Angela for advice on how to cope lol!

Best,
Steph

 

[rottpaw]

Hi Jamie!

I'm SO glad you are joining us! Two under two is definitely crazy, but amazing! I will post more soon, but just wanted to say hi and welcome!

 

[Purpleplum]

Svetayasofiya - thanks! Looking forward to chatting with you.

Steph - congratulations! Hope you are feeling good these days. I have to say that being pregnant with a toddler was much harder for me than the first time around. I was so exhausted the third trimester. Of course, I worked until the day before I went in (I had to have scheduled c-sections for both kids due to a prior surgery) so that did not help matters!

Luckily I have a partner who loves spending time with our daughter and we have a great nanny. We went the daycare route with Violet until a few months before Cole was born. My partner (guess I will call him DP) is home quite a bit and wanted to be able to spend time with the kids when he wasn't working, and having a nanny is only slighty more expensive than daycare. It's been chaotic, but we are settling into somewhat of a routine.

I want to learn more from Rottpaw - how do you handle both boys all day? Last night when I got home I had to feed Violet dinner, nurse Cole, and then put Violet down for the night. It was a bit crazy.

So we just bought a truck and travel trailer and plan to test them out Friday night. We are going to camp with some friends but plan to stay close to town. Trying to figure out the sleeping arrangement. Should be interesting with a toddler and newborn!

By the way, all of your toddlers are absolutely darling!! I will have to figure how to post some pictures soon.

Hope everyone is having a good day!

 

[Purpleplum]

Thanks very much, Angela! Think we were posting at the same time.

And Anna - I love Colorado. Every year (except for the last year and this year) we head to Vail the first week in June for the Teva Mountain Games. My partner was a professional athlete up until recently and competed in the Games. You must be in great shape. Every year I would go there and think I was in decent shape until I went for a trail run. I was always gasping for air after 10 minutes and resorted to walking. In any event, I really want my body back. Trying to lose the last 10-12 pounds after pregnancy is so hard.

 

[pablo797]

Hi all!!

Purple, soooo good to see you here!! It's always so nice to add new members, and you're in good company as both Angela and Steph will have/ have two. I will reiterate what others have said, WOW, two under two. But that is great!! Awesome that your DP, is so great with the kids!!

I do love Colorado, and the teva mountain games are awesome! What sports did DP participate in? I used to be a kayaker. Not anymore, but I miss it. As for being in shape . . . Well not so much. I've lost the weight, but more due to calorie restriction. I need to great back into running. Trail running is one of my FAVORITE things to do, so I'm trying to get back into it. Just hard finding the time. If I street run I can take Jo in jogger, but our trails are too rocky and full of roots for a jogger. You need to come back out and visit me!!

Congrats on the trailer! What kind? How long? Reason I ask is we camp often in a 16' prowler. We took Jo camping for the first time when she was 3weeks old. In hind sight it may have been a bit early. But, we go often and are in fact headed out to Utah this weekend. We need out of the snow, yes it's snowing here today. Hope you have a great time and let me know if you have any camping questions. We take the pack n pay, but have struggles with Jo sleeping in it. If you have better luck with violet let me know you're trick.

Angela, how are things??
Steph, how ya feeling?
Beth, how are things? How's poppy?
Chris, it is so good to have you back!!

AFM, I think I'm jinxed. Had a good weekend, went to Denver to hang with an old friend who is now a professor at UNH. she has turned me onto our early intervention program which will test Jo for any speech delays. It is a government program and totally free. Anyway, good weekend except that I picked Jo up from daycare on Thursday and she felt hot, so I took her temp there and yep, 101. ( Small grrrrrr here that they didn't notice she had a fever). So Friday morning we had a follow up appointment with her ear specialist, and he checked her out, throat infection. Awesome. So I'm in Denver at my parents house with an increasingly cranky sick baby. By Saturday the fever was climbing so we went home (back to Breckenridge) and sure enough, 103.9. Holy smokes!!! So in sheer mom panic, as I'm about to rush her to the ER, I call her regular doctor and tell her the symptoms. She says she saw three cases exactly the same last week and its not strep, but something viral. So just keep on the Tylenol and ibuprofen. Sure enough the fever broke a few hours later. She is back to normal pretty much today. But I swear, she got it from daycare, three others have been sick too, and it's just killing me how often she is sick. If there were any way in the world for me to quite my job and stay home I would.

Ok rant over. Other than that had a great weekend. Garden is ready for the snow to quit already and be planted. I hauled an entire truck load of dirt yesterday via wheelbarrow and shovel and feel it today in my back and shoulders. I have a black thumb, so it will be interesting to see how successful this venture is.

Ok, all from here. Hope everyone is well, happy and healthy.

Anna

 

[rottpaw]

Anna, the garden sounds awesome, but MAN I am so sorry you are still getting snow there! Although (being a cold weather lover) I would honestly trade May snow for the heat we'll have for the next four months. Bleh! SO sorry Jo is sick again! They definitely get so many germs at daycare and it is so crazy how much crud goes around. Ethan starts preschool 2 mornings a week in the fall, and I am already bracing myself for that onslaught of sickness.

Purpleplum - to answer your question, two kids is just plain crazy - wonderfully so, but crazy most of the time! . I'm learning to embrace the chaos - not something that comes naturally to this type-a perfectionist! I love 'em, though. Wouldn't trade them for anything! Mostly, I find I slowly develop loose routines, and our days do have a loose pattern to them (even though things change on a moment's notice). As Reece grows, it's getting a bit easier, and I'm hoping he will soon slip into a two-long-naps a day routine instead of three or four shorter naps. We'll see. Would love to see some photos when you get a chance, and congratulations on your new addition!

Chris honey we're so glad you are back! How are things?

Steph, you doing okay sweetie? How is the BP?

Beth, happy belated birthday! Our weekend was nutso, and I'm so sorry- I think I missed posting for you on FB.

Viv, how are you and sweet Callum?

AFM, we are well - enjoyed a fun but exhausting weekend, after a crazy week during which we replaced our upstairs A/C unit (that was a 2-day-turned 4-day project...). SAt we hosted a pool party (end of year party) for my church discipleship group and families. About 23 people and kids... again, crazy but in a great way! That wore us out, then we went to a friend's birthday party last night which was also fun. I've been finding I need Mondays to recuperate from weekend family time (not the family time itself, just the household chaos that ensues from us being gone/out and about/busy all weekend). So today it is cleanup time, then hopefully a few get togethers with friends to walk and/or playdates this week.

okay ladies - must run for now. Oh! Today is Reece's six month half-birthday. So in love with our littlest guy!

 

[pablo797]

Wait, didn't you replace the AC unit last year, or two years ago?? I seem to recall an AC issue in the recent past. Mondays are my catch up from the weekend day too. Especially if we're out of town camping.

Hugs and happy first half birthday to Reece!!!
Oh, and Beth! HAPPY BIRTHDAY to you too sweet friend!!!

Anna

 

[Purpleplum]

Anna - thanks so much for the warm welcome! Funny - DP was a professional kayaker. I also used to paddle but only up to Class III. I wasn't very good but always had a great time. At the games the Homestake Creek race was my favorite event. We are definitely going next year so maybe we can meet up in Vail!

I enjoy running as well but I tend to get very lazy about it. Last year I started doing Cross-fit and loved it. I was finally in the shape I wanted be for about two weeks and then I found out I was pregnant LOL! It was a bit of a surprise.

We had a great time camping! Anna - we bought a used 25' Fleetwood Pegasus. Violet slept with DP in the bed and I slept with Cole on the pull-out couch. I didn't think the pack n' play would fit well so I bought a small travel co-sleeper bed. It was okay but Cole will grow it out it in not too long. Violet slept pretty well in the bed but woke up at 2:30 a.m. wanting to play I would love some suggestions for quick and easy meals while camping - all I can think of is pasta and bbq chicken/burgers. Where in Utah are you heading? I think it is great that you had Jo out camping so early! So sorry to hear that she sick again. Poor girl and poor you! It doesn't seem like you ever get a break! Violet has not been sick since she left daycare. Before then she was always coming home with one thing or another.

Angela - I'm also a type-A perfectionist. I need to learn to let some things go! It's a daily battle with DP. I love my kids, but yes, it's chaos most of the time! I will be happy when Cole starts going to sleep at 7 which is Violet's bedtime. Then I will get a few hours to relax or so stuff around the house. Maybe then I will start to feel human again!

AFM - back at work and tired from the weekend. Cole is having another growth spurt and Wonder Week. Ugh. Lots of eating, waking up at night, etc. He did much better last night (had a 5-hour stretch of sleep) so I now I can see the light. This was a rough one. He is usually an angel.

Ok, hope everyone is doing well!! I will try and post a few pictures . . .

Jamie